Hold'em table

On the button in a three-handed game, T6 offsuit is a reasonable steal-raise at the minimum size.

I hold 9s2s, a weak hand that is not worth calling a raise from the small blind. Folding preserves my stack against a strong range from the button.

Pocket sixes have set-mining value and calling closes the preflop action for only 100 more into a 350 pot; raising risks bloating the pot out of position with a medium pair.

Middle pair on an Ace-high flop with no current bet; checking controls the pot and lets me evaluate the preflop raiser's action.

A small continuation bet leverages our preflop initiative on an ace-high board and can fold out many missed holdings while risking little.

My pocket sixes are an underpair on an Ace-high board, and I'm facing a flop bet from the preflop raiser with poor equity and reverse implied odds. Folding avoids further losses.

I have a pocket pair of fives, which has decent potential to hit a set on the flop. Calling the big blind keeps my stack intact and lets me see a cheap flop without overcommitting preflop.

With A3o in the small blind and only 50 more to call, I have decent pot odds and can close the preflop action cheaply. Raising into two limpers with a weak offsuit ace risks bloating the pot out of position.

Check the big blind with a weak offsuit hand and realize equity cheaply in a multiway limped pot.

Ace-high on a paired board with only a backdoor club draw; no need to build a pot out of position this early.

With weak showdown value on a paired board and two opponents, checking keeps the pot controlled while retaining some chance to win against lower unpaired holdings.

The board is paired with Queens and I hold a pocket pair of fives, giving me a set of queens if one appears but currently just a pair. Both opponents checked, so I'll check behind to control pot size and see a cheap turn.

I have ace-high with no pair on a paired board; checking keeps the pot small and I can reevaluate on the river.

With only eight-high and a gutshot, checking preserves equity without bluffing into two opponents on a paired board.

The board is paired with queens and I hold a middle pair of fives, so I want to keep the pot small and avoid building a big pot with a mediocre hand. Checking lets me see the river cheaply and potentially improve or control the pot if my opponent shows weakness.

Ace high has some showdown value, and betting into two opponents who have shown no strength risks getting called by a pair. Checking keeps the pot small and may win if both opponents are unpaired.

A minimum river bluff can profitably target the many unpaired hands that checked through all streets, while risking little relative to the pot.

I have a pair of fives on a Q-Q-6-4-J board with no straight or flush draws completing. Calling 100 to show down is better than folding, and raising risks getting called by a queen or better.

Ace-high with no pair on a paired, coordinated board cannot beat a river bet and a call from two opponents; the small pot odds do not justify continuing.

K8o on the button is a decent hand to raise with, taking initiative and potentially folding out the blinds. With position, I can control the pot and use my equity advantage.

A♠Q♦ is a strong hand against a button open; 3-betting for value and initiative is preferable to calling out of position.

With Kd6c on the button, I have a playable but not premium hand. The pot is 1300 and I only need to call 800 more, giving me 1.625:1 odds. I'll call to see a flop and play position rather than fold or make a speculative raise.

K8o is too weak to continue against a 3-bet and a cold call, especially with poor domination risk and only 600 to call but likely behind both ranges.

Top pair with a strong kicker is well ahead of much of the preflop calling range. I bet for value while charging heart draws and weaker aces.

My Kd-6c is dominated by the board's Ace and the opponent's aggressive continuation raise. The pot odds don't justify chasing a weak draw, so folding preserves my stack.

AQ offsuit is a strong button opening hand. A 2.5bb raise applies pressure while keeping weaker calls in.

My hand Q7o is weak and out of position. The raiser has shown strength with a 2.5bb raise, and I only have a small blind discount. Folding preserves my stack.

Closing the action with an ace-high hand, I'm getting good pot odds against a button open and can evaluate on the flop.

Ace-high on a paired board with no made hand; checking controls the pot and avoids bloating against the preflop raiser.

I will make a small continuation bet with two overcards and a gutshot to Broadway, applying pressure to unpaired hands while keeping the pot manageable.

Ace-high with no pair or draw on a paired board; opponent raised preflop and continues, so folding is best.

I have Jc Ac, a strong hand that benefits from position. A 300 raise builds the pot and isolates the blinds without overcommitting preflop.

QQ is a premium hand and a 3-bet for value is best here; raising to 900 pressures the button and builds the pot while I have a strong range advantage.

T7 offsuit is too weak to continue from the big blind facing a large 3-bet after an open, especially out of position.

I have Jc Ac, a strong hand, and the pot odds justify calling the 600 to continue. I'll keep the hand cheap for now and reassess on the flop.

I have an overpair on a dry paired board and likely the best hand; betting for value and protection against 9x and overcards.

I have top pair with the Ace kicker on a 9-5-5 flop, which is a strong hand. Calling keeps the pot manageable and avoids bloating it with a weak kicker while still realizing value.

We have an overpair on a coordinated board and should bet for value and protection against draws and worse pairs.

I have top pair with the best kicker on a paired board, and calling keeps the pot manageable while preserving enough stack to play the river.

Opponent likely has top pair based on chat and passive calling; shoving for value and representing a missed draw to induce a call.

Seat 3 is all-in for 5700 on the river with a scary board, and I only have top pair with an Ace kicker. Calling risks a large loss against a likely better hand, so folding is the disciplined play.

Calling with decent pot odds and position to see a flop with a hand that can flop top pair.

Complete the small blind cheaply with a connected hand receiving strong pot odds, while avoiding an inflated pot out of position.

I have 3d Ad, which is playable but not strong enough to lead preflop. Since I'm in the big blind and everyone has called, checking keeps my options open and lets me see a flop cheaply.

I have an open-ended straight draw plus a spade flush draw, giving strong equity and fold pressure in this multiway pot. A two-thirds-pot continuation bet builds the pot while retaining maneuverability.

I have a backdoor flush draw and overcard with Ad, so calling 200 to keep the pot controlled is reasonable. I'll check back if the turn is dry and reassess.

K-high with no spade and no pair is too weak against a flop bet and a call from two opponents; folding preserves chips.

I have a made jack-high straight on a coordinated board. I will value-bet while charging flush draws and one-pair holdings.

I have top pair with a weak kicker on a coordinated board. Calling keeps the pot manageable and avoids committing too much with a marginal hand against a strong bet.

The paired river leaves my straight vulnerable to any flush, jack, or higher straight. Checking realizes showdown value without risking a thin value bet into a better range.

Board is paired with two jacks and a flush draw completed; my Ace-high is weak and likely behind. Checking avoids bloating the pot with a marginal hand.